Not all Korean food spots in the Twin Cities and surrounding areas offer the same experience. Depending on your mood you can choose between a number of unique places that serve not only delicious Korean food but also create a distinct vibe that fits whatever you are craving. Growing up Korean I did not have many options for Korean food outside of my mom’s amazing cooking. So it is exciting to see how much Korean cuisine has become more popular and accessible, allowing so many people to enjoy great authentic cultural dishes right here in the Twin Cities!
The six Korean food spots I am sharing below all serve amazing food, but each one also offers a different kind of experience. Whether you are looking for a quick bite, wanting to grill your own Korean BBQ with friends, or looking for a quiet and cozy family-owned spot, there is a food experience for everyone.
Fun and Interactive Experience:
Shinhwa Korean Steakhouse | 2181 Snelling Avenue North, Roseville
For a fun and great social experience, whether you are with a group of friends or on a date, Shinhwa Korean Steakhouse in Roseville is the place to go. You can choose between grill-it-yourself Korean BBQ, hot pot, or both, depending on your appetite. Since grilling the food is a group activity it creates a great environment for fun conversation and a chance to show off your cooking skills. Ordering is done on an iPad and the menu is all-you-can-eat, offering everything from various cuts of meat to seafood and then a robot brings the food to your table. My family took me here to celebrate my birthday last month and we really enjoyed having such an interactive eating experience. Bonus: eating the complimentary Melona popsicles for dessert! My personal favorite? The pork belly, especially when dipped in a savory Korean sauce from the self-serve sauce bar we made ourselves.
Quick Snack and Dessert:
CrunCheese Korean Hot Dog | 401 14th Ave SE, Minneapolis | Asia Mall
SnowBing Korean Shaved Ice | 12160 Technology Dr. Asia Mall
For something light and fast, I highly recommend grabbing a Korean corn dog from CrunCheese. These corn dogs are similar to the American version however, the batter is made with rice flour, making the outside extra crunchy while keeping the inside slightly chewy. Typically, these corn dogs are stuffed with mozzarella cheese, or can also include a hot dog, with your choice of topping such as Hot Cheetos dust, ketchup, or sugar. A popular option is the Potato Mozza Hotdog, which is covered in fried potato cubes. If you are feeling adventurous, you can try the Squid-Ink Mozza and Hotdog, although to be honest, I have not tried this one yet! I like to keep it simple with my personal favorite: the Mozzarella and Hotdog, topped with a sprinkle of sugar and a drizzle of ketchup.
Bonus: If you are at the Asia Mall CrunCheese location, be sure to grab a Korean bingsu dessert from SnowBing, which shares the space. Bingsu is a favorite dessert of my family and is a shaved ice dessert that is creamy and melts in your mouth. Portions are large and have a variety of toppings, including strawberries, chewy rice cakes, matcha, and chocolate. I definitely hope more SnowBing locations open around the Twin Cities in the near future!.
My personal favorite? The Injeolmi Bingsu, which is topped with soy bean powder and chewy injeolmi rice cakes. Be sure to ask for a scoop of red bean to add sweetness and texture to the dessert. Feeling less adventurous? The Strawberry Bingsu is always a big hit with my kids.
Pastry or Coffee Break:
Paris Baguette | 7855 Elm Creek Boulevard North, Maple Grove
If you are looking for a light and flavorful pastry or a cozy morning coffee, Paris Baguette is a must-visit. This popular Korean-French bakery cafe is a new addition to the Twin Cities and is located in Maple Grove. It offers a wide variety of pastries such as mochi donuts, red bean buns, various croissants, and fresh fruit tarts, as well as savory baked goods. When my mom visited Korea last year, she mentioned that Paris Baguette locations were everywhere, so it is exciting that we can now enjoy their delicious pastries here in the Twin Cities, too. The espresso drinks are a great addition to any pastry, and if you are celebrating a special person or accomplishment, they also offer beautifully decorated cakes.
My personal favorite? The Whole Red Bean Bread, which is a bun filled with sweetened red bean and goes well with a Hazelnut Latte or Matcha Latte. Not a fan of red bean for dessert? I recommend trying one of the croissants, my top picks are the Strawberry Croissant, which has a custard cream and strawberry filling, and the Almond Croissant filled with almond cream.
Crispy KFC:
ChiMaek Korean Fried Chicken | 450 124th Ave NW #100, Coon Rapids
Craving something crispy and flavorful? Try Korean Fried Chicken, often referred to as KFC (NOT Kentucky Fried Chicken haha) at ChiMaek in Coon Rapids. Korean fried chicken is double-fried fried making the outside extra crunchy while keeping the inside juicy and flavorful. The chicken is topped with your choice of soy garlic or spicy sauce and comes with a complimentary side of pickled radish (I highly recommend) or coleslaw. While ChiMaek offers other various delicious Korean dishes on the menu, we consistently go there to order and eat their KFC. Bonus: Right next door is Te’Amo Boba Bar, which has delicious sweets such as mochi donuts as well as boba tea, cakes, and more. It is the perfect way to end a delicious Korean meal! Personal Favorite: We always go for the spicy sauce on the KFC, but the soy garlic is great as well.
Cozy and Homestyle:
Mirror of Korea | 761 Snelling Ave, St. Paul
If you are looking for a quiet homestyle atmosphere with traditional Korean dishes, check out Mirror of Korea in St. Paul. This second-generation family-run restaurant is small and cozy with a large Korean menu. Every meal comes with complimentary traditional Korean side dishes called banchan, and the meals are authentic and delicious. Their noodles are especially good, with Bibim Naengmyun, a spicy cold noodle dish, being one of my picks.
Personal Favorite: Dolsot Bibimbap, which is a mixed rice dish with meat and vegetables served in a sizzling hot stone bowl. It creates a crispy and delicious layer of rice at the bottom, which is honestly my favorite part!
Restaurant and Groceries in One:
Dong Yang Oriental Food | 735 45th Ave NE, Hilltop
Need to pick up some Korean groceries but also craving authentic Korean food? Dong Yang Oriental Food in Columbia Heights offers both! Although upon first entering it appears to be a typical Korean grocery store, located in the back is a small counter-service restaurant serving a short but authentic menu of Korean staple dishes such as bulgogi, kalbi (beef short ribs), and even a variety of soups. The food comes out quickly and is perfect for a quick bite. I love being able to sit down for a delicious meal, then grab a jar of kimchi and some rice cakes on my way out. It is a pretty popular place, and even made a cameo in the Netflix show Chef’s Table when it featured local Korean American chef and restaurant owner Anna Kim as she was shopping for Korean ingredients!
Personal Favorite: Kalbi, or beef short ribs, are delicious, and we also love getting the mandu, which are Korean dumplings.
Honorable Mentions:
There are plenty of amazing Korean restaurants to explore around the Twin Cities. Here are a few more favorites—some I’ve personally enjoyed, and others that come highly recommended
